Adjustable ski harness



Nov 28, 1961 H. w. HEDLUND 3,010,125

ADJUSTABLE SKI HARNESS Filed April 4, 1958 FT 7 Z.

3,010,125 ADJUSTABLE SKI HARNESS Henry W. Hedlund, Nokomis, 111.,assignor to Hedluntl Manufacturing Company, Nokomis, Ill, a corporationof Illinois Filed Apr. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 726,574 15 Claims. (Cl. 9-310)This invention relates to a foot binding or harness for skis, and moreparticularly to a binding or harness for water skis which is readilyadjustable to fit the foot of the skier.

In order that water skis may be used by skiers having different footsizes it is desirable that water skis be equipped with a binder orharness which can be easily adjustable to accommodate any foot size.

Generally, the water ski harness of the this invention includes aforward vamp member fixed to the water ski for receiving a portion ofthe forward part of the skiers foot, and a movable counter member forreceiving a portion of the heel part of the skiers foot. The movablecounter member can be adjusted longitudinally of the ski, and suitablelocking or securing means, in the form of wedge means, which ispivotable between released and locked positions, relative to associatedreaction means, is provided to secure the counter member, after adustment, to the ski.

One object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple andinexpensive adjustable water ski harness.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable ski harnesswhich has means for providing a securing force in a directionsubstantially normal to the .direction of adjustment being made to theharness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Water ski harness whichcan be adjusted longitudinally of the water ski to compensate for theslightest variance and to enable the most accurate of adjustments.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable water skiharness which because of the slightest variance of adjustments can bemade to comfortably tit the foot size of any skier yet is strong anddurable and will not loosen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water ski harness inwhich the adjustable counter member is securely held to the ski bylongitudinally extending transversely spaced guides, a longitudinallyextending slot and longitudinally spaced posts which assure a ruggedmovable connection between the counter member and the ski and whichprevent undesirable sidewisetwisting of the counter member during anyadjustable longitudinal movement thereof to a desired position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water ski harness whichallows fluid to flow through the harness as the ski passes through thewater thereby alleviating the building up of any undesirable waterpressure within the counter member and. foot portion.

The following detailed description together with the accompanyingdrawing present a typical and illustrative "embodiment of thisinvention.

' f In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is aplan viewlshowinga fragment of ,a

'water ski on which is mounted a water ski harness illus- Ttrating thisinvention; 1 i

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-'-2 in FIGURE 1; a T

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 1; -1 vFIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the wedge plate of the locking means;and

FIGURE 5 is a perspectiveview of a modificationof 5 the wedge plateshown in FIGURE 4.

I substantially ,counterplatetfil, note FIGURE 1.

3,010,125 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 ice Attention is now directed to thedrawing wherein a water ski harness 10, of this invention, is shown asbeing mounted on a water ski 12, only a portion of which is illustrated,and it is to be understood that the ski harness 10 may be mounted on alltypes of skis, if desired.

The forward portion of the ski harness 10 includes a vamp member 14mounted on the upper surface of the ski 12.

The vamp member 14 is formed of any suitable flex ible, rubber-likematerial having elastic properties, and is shaped to conform to thefront portion of a skiers foot. The generally longitudinally extendingtransversely spaced, side edge portions of the vamp member 14 are eachsecured to the ski 12 by clamping means, such as clamp plates 16-16,which are secured to the ski 12 by securing means, such as screws 18, orthe like, which extend through holes in the clamp plates 16-16, throughthe respective side edge portions of the vamp 14, which are disposedintermediate the clamp plates 1616 and the ski 12, and then into the ski12.

tance from the surface of the ski 12 to accommodate entry of the skiersfoot. Also, if desired, the transversely extending forward portion 21 ofthe vamp member 14 likewise is spaced a suitable distance from thesurface of the ski 12 and forms an opening or passage through whichwater may pass and flow between the skiers foot and the inside of thevamp member 14.

The rearward portion of the ski harness 10 includes a heel or countermember 30 which, like the vamp member 14, is formed of any suitableflexible, rubber-like material having elastic properties and is shapedto conform to a portion of a skiers heel. r

The counter member 30 is secured to Y-shaped longitudinally adjustablymovable mounting means, such as a counter plate 32, by clamping means,such as a U-shaped clamp plate 34, which overlies the side and rear edgeportions of the counter member 30, and securing means, such as rivets36, or the like, which pass through openings in the clamp plate 34, theside and rear edge portions of the counter member 30 and the counterplate 32.

The counter plate 32 has a longitudinally rearwardly extending tailportion 38 and a longitudinally forwardly extending yoke portion 40 towhich the counter member 30 and clamp plate 34 are secured by the rivets36, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The skiers heel will rest directly onthe surface of the ski 12 or on a padding,

edge portionsof the counter plate 32 there is positioned 44441-or :thelike,

guide means, such as a guide-track which are secured to the ski 12 bysecuringfmeans, such as screws 46 or the like, so that the guide-tracks44-44 extend generally longitudinally along the ski 12 and parallel to.the side edge portions of the Each of theJ-guide tracks 44%44 comprises'an upper strip- 48 overlying a lower strip, 50. The :transversely innergenerally longitudinally extending edgeportiojn of the upper strip 43isbent upwardly away from the rea transverselyjnwardly facinglongitudinally extending slot 52 which receivesa respective guide lug 42of the guide lug .42 resting on the member 42 or the like, 'which haveseen in FIGURE 3, to define" lower strip 50 and freely slidablelongitudinally therealong within the respective slot 52. Thelongitudinal sliding movement of the guide lugs 42, relative to the ski12, is limited by stop means 54 defined by the unbent end portions ofthe upper strips 48 adjacent the screws 46.

It is to be noted that the guide lugs '42 rest on the lower strip andthat the counter plate 32, which is coplanar with the guide lugs 42, issubstantially open and generally vertically upwardly spaced, asdesignated by 56, from the underlying surface of the ski, note FIG- URES2 and 3. The space 56 permits fluid, such as .water, which may enter theski harness at the forward portion 21 of the vamp member 14 or at theopen sides of the ski harness 10 which are between the vamp member 14and the counter member 30 to fiow rapidly out at the rear of the skiharness, around the skiers heel and under the counter plate 32.

The tail portion 38 of the counter plate 32 is provided with a generallylongitudinally extending slot 53 which .is disposed substantiallyparallel to and intermediate of the guide-tracks 44-44 andlongitudinally rearwardly spaced therefrom.

Support and lower reaction means, such as a reaction bar 60, ispositioned generally vertically below the slot 58 and extends generallylongitudinally and substantially parallel to the slot 58 and is securedto the ski 12 in such position by securing means, such as screws 62 orthe like. The tail portion 38 is slidably supported by the reaction bar60 for longitudinal sliding movement thereacross and the tail portion 38is upwardly vertically spaced from the surface of the ski 12 a distancesubstantially equal to the upward vertical spacing of the lugs 42 sothat the lower strips 50 of the guide-tracks .44-44 and the reaction bar60 also act as spacer means to support the counter plate 32 in spacedrelation to the surface of the ski 12 to further define the space 56through which the water may readily flow, as previously described.

In order to lock and secure the longitudinally movable counter plate 38in any desired adjusted position and to retain the counter member 30positioned relative to the vamp member 14, there is provided lockingand, secur- Ling means, such as wedge latch means 64, which includes, asillustrated in the modficaton of FIGURE 4, a relatively large,substantially fiat first portion or member 66, which may be of disc-typeconfiguration, as illustrated, suitable handle means 68 extendinggenerally radially therefrom, wedge means, such as ramps 70, disposed onopposed sides of an arcuate slot 72 and an opening 74 for a pivot post76.

The wedge means or ramps 70 extend inwardly from the peripheral edge ofthe disc portion 66 and terminate at the inner extremity of the slot 72.Further, it is to be noted, in the modification of FIGURE 4, that thewedge means or ramps 70 are substantially axially flush and merge withthe periphery of the disc portion .66 adjacent 1 the open end of theslot 72 and extend axially upwardly and generally radially inwardlytherefrom so that the wedge means or ramps 70 are axially spacedupwardly from the disc portion 66 adjacent the inner extremity :of theslot 72K p The wedge latch means 64 pivots about a generally a verticalaxis, such as the pivot post 7,6,which as illustrated, may be arivet-like element secured to the reac-' tion bar 60. The pivot post 76extends upwardly through an opening in the reaction bar 60, through the,slot 58 e in the tail portion 38 and through the opening 74 in thewedge latch means 64. Su'itablehead portions retain -the pivot post 76to the reaction bar 60 and the wedge latch means 64 on the pivot post76. There isfurtherprovided upper wedge reaction means, such as .areaction post 78 having a washer-like element 80 thereon,

which is located longitudinally rearwardly of the pivot post 76, which,as illustrated, comprises a slotted head machine screw with relativelyfine threads which is secured into a tapped hole in the reaction bar 60or, if desired, may be in the form of a rivet-like element similar tothe pivot post 76 and secured in a recessed portion of the reaction bar60.

The advantage of having the reaction post 78 in the form of a slottedhead machine screw, as compared to a rivot-like element, is that thereis the possibility that after long and extended use, wear may cause adecrease of frictional force between the washer-like element and thewedge means or ramps 70 and by using the slotted head machine screwadjustments may be made to compensate for such wear. The reaction post78 extends upwardly through an opening in the reaction bar 60 andthrough the slot 58 in tail portion 38. The washer-like element 80 isfreely axially longitudinally movably disposed and carried on the upperend portion of the reaction post 78 and a suitable head portion 79retains the washer-like element 80 on the reaction post 78.

The pivot post 76 and the reaction post 78 are substantiallylongitudinally aligned and spaced from each other. Further, the reactionpost 78 is of slightly less diameter than the width of the arcuate slot72 in the wedge latch means 64 and the washer-like element 80 freelyrides upon and in sliding engagement with the upper surface portions ofthe wedge means of ramps 70.

As the wedge latch means 64 is pivoted about the pivot post 76,clockwise as seen in FIGURE 1, by the handle means 68, the arcuate slot72 receives the reaction post 78, and the wedge means or ramps 70 bearupwardly against the washer-like element 80 which has restricted upwardmovement because of the upper head portion 79 of the reaction post 78.The wedge latch means 64 consequently is urged downwardly to firmlyclamp the latch means 64 is pivoted counterclockwise until the wedgemeans or ramps 70 relieve the clamping force on the tail. portion 38.The counterclockwise pivotal movement of the handle means '68 to theunlocked position,

,as illustrated in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 1, is limited by stop means,such as a stop ring 82 or the like, preferably .formedof a resilientmaterial and fastened to the ski, 12 ,bysecuring means, such as a screw84 or the like. Further, the stop means'82 also facilitates in retainingthe wedge latch means 64 in the proper position relative to the reactionpost 76.

.Attention is now directed to a modification of the wedge latch means,as illustrated in FIGURE 5, wherein like elements have been designatedby corresponding reference numerals of the series. The wedge latch means164 includes a relatively large first portion or member 166 which maybe'o f. disc-like configuration, handle means 168, wedge means or ramps170 disposed on opposed sides of an arcuate slot 172 having spaced'closed ends1182-182' which act as stop means to facilitate thepositioning of the we'dgelatch means 164 relative'to the reaction post78. The wedge means or ramps 170 extend froma substantially axiallyflush relationship with the disc' 166 adjacent one closed end 182 of theslot 172 to a substantially axially upwardly spaced relationship to thedisc 166 adjacent the other closed end 182' of the slot-172. I

By this convenient adjustable harness device even a slight increment ofadjustmentcan be made since it is possible to set the counter member 30at exactly the desired position relative to the vamp member 14 and thenpivot the wedge latch means 64 or 164 to the clamping position withoutdisturbing the adjusted position of the counter member 30 since theprimary wedging or securing force is in a direction which issubstantially normal to the longitudinally adjustable movement of thecounter plate 32 and counter member 30.

This harness device affords a rugged structure that will preventsidewise twisting or sliding of the counter member 30 which may besubject to severe jolts and jars when in use. The guide lugs 42, pivotpost 76 and reaction post 78 cooperate to provide a four point supportwhich virtually eliminates any possibility of the counter plate 32 andthe counter member 30 shifting sidewise or transversely relative to theski 12.

The relatively large friction surface on the under side of the disc-likeportions 66 and 166 of the wedge latch means 64 and 164, respectivelyoffer suflicient frictional contact with the top surface of the tailportion 38 of the counter plate 32, together with the frictional contactbetween the lower surface of the tail portion 38 and upper surface ofthe reaction bar 60, to prevent the counter member 30 and counter plate38 from shifting longitudinally when the wedge latch means 64 or 164 arein the clamping position.

As illustrated, the slots 72 and 172, and the wedge means or ramps 70are disposed along an arc, the center of which is substantially commonto the center of the pivot pin 76 with the primary wedging action beingsubstantially normal to the longitudinal movement of the counter member30. However, if desirable, in order. to have additional secondarywedging action, the arc of the slots 72 and 172 may have a center whichis radially offset from the center of the pivot pin 76 which will givean additional secondary wedging action in a direction common to thelongitudinally adjustable movement of the counter member 30 tosupplement the desired primary wedging action.

The space 56, which is provided between the surface of the ski 12 andthe counter plate 32 by the spacer means, i.e. the track-guides 44-44and support bar 60, will enable fluid to freely flow through theharness. Such a provision for the free passage of fluid through theharness alleviates the building up of fluid pressure in the 2 heelsection of the harness and prevents any fluid pres-' sure from (1)flexing the counter member 30 rearwardly so that the skiers heel mightslip from the counter member, (2) forcing the counter 30, counter plate32 and guide lugs 42 rearwardly or, (3) creating a strain on the wedgelatch means 64.

Having thus described and disclosed my invention in its preferred form,it is to be understood that obvious modifications, other than thoseillustrated in the drawing, may be resorted to andstill be within thescope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a water ski, a vamp member secured to the ski, acounter member, mounting means comprising a counter plate having "thecounter member mounted thereon, support means for supporting the counterplate in spaced relationship to the ski to enable longitudinal movementof the counter plate relative to the vamp member between a plurality ofadjusted positions, said support means comprising transversely spacedgenerally longitudinally extending guide-track means secured to the skiadjacent the longitudinal edge portions thereof, said guide-track meanshaving transversely inwardly opening grooves therein, a support barlongitudinally spaced from and disposed intermediate the guidetrackmeans, said counter plate having generally transversely extending lugportions received Within the grooves and slideably supported therein bythe guide-track means and a tail portion having a slot therein extendinggen-' erally longitudinally therefrom and slideably supported by saidsupport bar, and locking means for securing said counter member in adesired adjusted position relative to the vamp member, said lockingmeans including a first portion having a slot therein, wedge meansdisposed adjacent the slot, pivot means pivotally mounting the firstportion to the ski, and a reaction post carried by the support bar, saidreaction post extending through the slot in the tail portion of thecounter plate and the slot in the first portion of the locking means forengagement with the wedge means on pivotal movement of the firstportion, whereby the tail portion of the counter plate is locked betweenthe first portion of the locking means and the support bar by a forceexerted thereby which is substantially normal to the movement of thecounter plate.

2. A water ski harness having members adapted to support portions of ausers foot, support means for movably mounting one of said members formovement relative to another one of the members between a plurality ofadjustable desired positions, securing means for securing said onemember in a selected one of the desired positions, said securing meansincluding a pivotally mounted member having an arcuate slot and aninclined portion defining wedge means disposed thereon adjacent to thearcuate slot therein, and upstanding elongated reaction means secured tothe support means, said reaction means passing through the arcuate slotin the pivotally mounted member and engageable with the wedge means onpivotal movement of the pivotally-mounted member to enable a securingforce to be exerted against the one member to secure the one member in aselected desired position. w

3. In a water ski harness having a foot-engaging member and supportmeans for adjustably movably supporting the foot-engaging member formovement between a plurality of desiredpositions, the improvementcomprising, in combination with the support means, securing means forsecuring said foot-engaging member in a desired adjusted position, saidsecuring means including a pivotally mounted member having an elongatedopening and wedge means disposed thereon adjacent to the elongatedopening therein, and reaction means secured to the support means, saidreaction means passing through the elongated opening in the pivotallymounted member and engageable with the wedge means on pivotal movementof the pivotally mounted member to effectively exert a pressure-forceagainst the support means. Y

4. A water ski harness having members adapted to engage portions of ausers foot, mounting means for movably mounting one of said members formovement relative to another one of the members between a plurality ofadjustable desired positions, said mounting means having an openingtherein, supporting means for supporting the mounting means, securingmeans for, se-

means and the supporting means.

5. The water ski harness as set forth in claim 4 wherein a said mountingmeans includes a plate having the onev member carried thereby with theportion of the mounting means being an outwardly extending portion ofthe plate.

6. The water ski harness as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidsupporting means includes spacer means comprising a plurality of spacermember's adapted to be interposed between the plate and a ski to whichthe harness may be attached to space the plate upwardly therefrom.

7. The water ski harness as set forthin claim 6', wherein certain ofsaid spacer members define guide-track means for slideably guiding theplate to facilitate the positioning of the said one member in theselected desired position.

8. A securing device for positioning a binder of a water ski harness ina selected desired position, said device including mounting means formovably mounting such binder for movement between a plurality ofadjustable desired positions, said mounting means comprising a platehaving a slot therein, supporting means slideably supporting themounting means, and securing means for securing the plate in a selectedone of the desired positions, said securing means including pivotallymounted means having an arcuate slot and wedge means disposed thereonadjacent to the arcuate slot therein, and reaction means for said wedgemeans, said reaction means being secured to the supporting means andpassing through the slot in the plate and the arcuate slot in thepivotally mounted means and effective on pivotal movement of thepivotally mounted means to enable a portion of the plate to be clampedbetween the pivotally mounted means of the securing means and thesupporting means.

9. The securing device as set forth in claim 8, together with means foradjusting said wedge means to compensate for wear.

10. The securing device as set forth in claim 8, together with stopmeans for engaging the pivotally mounted, means to limit the pivotalmovement thereof and position the pivotally mounted means relative tothe reaction means.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein said pivotallymounted means is substantially disc-shaped in configuration with thearcuate slot therein having one end thereof open at the periphery of thedisc andthe wedge means tapers from an axially upwardly raised portionadjacent the other end of the arcuate slot smoothly downwardly andterminates adjacent the open end thereof in a substantially axiallyflush relationship with the disc.

12. The structure as set forth in. claim 8, wherein said pivotallymounted means is substantially disc-shaped in configuration and saidwedge means is axially spacedv upwardly therefrom adjacent one end ofthe arcuate slot therein and tapers smoothly downwardly to asubstantially axially flat relationship thereto adjacent the other endof the arcuate slot with the end portions of the arcuate slot beingclosed to define stop means for positioning the pivotally-mounted meansrelative to the reaction means.

13. A securing mechanism forsecuring a foot-engaging movable member of awater ski harness in selected desired adjusted positions, said securingmechanism including movably supported mounting means for supporting suchfoot-engaging member for movement between a plurality of such desiredpositions, locking means for locking the mounting means in a selecteddesired adjustedposition, said locking means including a pivotallymounted member having an elongated opening therein and wedge meansthereon disposed adjacent to the elongated opening therein, means havinga part thereof passing through said elongated opening in the pivotallymounted member, said means also defining upper and lower wedge reactionmeans, said wedge reaction means being disposed to effectively wedge themounting means in the selected desired adjusted position on pivotalmovement of the pivotally mounted member to a position wherein the wedgemeans thereon is interposed between the upper and lower reaction means.

14. A securing mechanism for securing a foot-engaging adju-stablymovable member of a water ski harness in a selected desired adjustedposition, said securing mechanism including movably supported mountingmeans adapted to support such member, pivotally mounted means carried bysaid movably supported mounting means, said pivotally mounted meanshaving an elon gated opening therein and wedge means thereon disposedadjacent to the elongated opening, and reaction means passing throughthe elongated opening in the pivotally mounted means for engaging thewedge means on pivotal movement of the pivotally mounted means to enablethe movably supported mounting means to be secured in the selecteddesired adjusted position.

15. In combination with a water ski, a Water ski harness having spacedapart members adapted to engage portions of a users foot, mounting meansfor movably mounting one ofsaid members for movement relative to .theother member between a plurality ofadjustable desired positions, saidmounting means including a plate having the one member secured thereto,supporting means for supporting said mounting means, said supportingmeans including spacer means interposed between the plate and the ski todispose said plate in upwardly spaced substantially open relationship tothe ski, said spacer means including transversely spaced apart generallylongitudinally extending guide-tracl means and a support bar separateand independent'of said guide-track means and longitudinally spaced fromand disposed intermediate the guide-track means in spaced relationshiprelative thereto, said guide-track means having transversely inwardlyopening grooves therein and said support bar having a surface thereon,said plate having generally transversely projecting lug portionsreceived within the grooves and slideably supported therein by theguide-track means and a generally longitudinally extending portionslideably supported on the surface of the'support bar, saidlongitudinally extending portion of the plate having an elongatedgenerally longitudinally extending opening therein, and means passingthrough the opening in the longitudinally extending portion of the plateforengaging the plate at longitudinally spaced locations thereon torestrain the plate against lateral movement during the movernent of theone member between the desired positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent

